enemy.. And tonight it's drawing up battle plans for a war on trees!! Good evening... I'm Paula Akana... I'm Yunji de Nies... We're talking Albizia trees in particular... Puna serves as proof of the problem. The trees can't stand up to a Tropical Storm ... But they Can come crashing down on everything below them ... Houses, streets, power lines, whatever. The end result is devastating. Today.. A summit of sorts and an agreement to develop a plan to combat the threat to life and property. PHONER US SEN. SCHATZ 44:15- 44:44 "THESE TREES ARE REALLY MENACE AND WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO GET RID OF THEM OVER TIME. IT IS EXPENSIVE AND POEPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT GOVT IS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET RID OF EVERY ALBEZIA ACROSS THESTATE BUT WE CAN START WITH THOSE TREES AND THOSE SPANS OF TREES THAT ARE CAUSING THE MOST HARM TO THE ELECTRICTY INFRASTRUCTUR E," Today's meeting included Hawaiian Electric Light Company, Mayor Billy Kenoi and his cabinet as well as the US Forest Service, The Invasive species Council and Sen. Russell Rudeman. The group hopes to get a plan in place soon which will cluded shared costs. re on Oahu there is growing concern abouthe tcropping of Albizias ong jor highways and freewsKITV4's therine Cruz k closer look at the teat motorists. You dontave to drive r alongahu's major arteries to see where izias have takehold. u see them along the Likelike Highway, Pali Tunnel and along H-2 . me of the trees are so ll th could easily ock allanes of affic ity fell. It is what Rep. Ryan Yamane sees every day when he drives into town from his district in Mililani. - Ryan Yamane 7:37 - 7:42 -"They pose a potential problem to motorists statewide. They grow very fast and their branches break during winds and none high winds and they pose a danger to many motorists," About 7 years ago, one fell damaging emergency phones on the H-2 freeway. It was at that point that transportation officials began taking a closer look at the threat and the need to taking down the trees to protect the public. But some of the abizias are on private property -- NOT on state land - Jay disk-- Jadine Urasaki 2:57:01--:09 - "Some are further back from the right of way.Its hard to get to, but we would take a look at it if we feel if there was a potential problem," Rep. Yamane thinks it would help if the federal govt was willing to expanding highway buffer zones and easements. SONNY Ryan 11:41- 11: 51 - "One of the things that has been a challenge is how far do we cut back the easement and what point do we cut back the trees when they pose a potential for harm regarding wind safety," Big Island senator Russell Rudeman flagged the threat of the trees along the roadways in HIlo and Puna last year. But it took Iselle to SHOW what he was talking about. - 2:30- 2:55 - "Approximately 80--90 percent of the lingering damage from the storm isdue to albizia . The power lines that are down and the roads and the so I think its nice that the problem has been highlighted. I think now there will be a concernted effort at Albizia control," The Outdoor Circle supports the idea of the right tree in the right place and cant agrue against health and safety. - Marti 37:22 -37:36 -"From the Outdoor Circle's perspective its not so much as having a abd tree list as a good tree list and we recogonize that having a tree that is native and non invasie and that is what we have supported in recent years." Interestingly, the Outdoor Circle says there are currently 5 Albizia trees that have been deemed exceptional trees. Townsend says there are all on military bases. Back to you. PHONER US SEN. SCHATZ 44:15- 44:44 "THESE TREES ARE REALLY MENACE AND WE

A bill to rezone agricultural land in West Oahu faced the people who live in that community Monday night. After passing a first reading last week, a city council committee brought Bill 3 out for a public hearing.